FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Sorry for the delay. Had to spend some time "socialising". Oh well. It's out now, if anyone's interested. Enjoy?

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It's late. Maybe five or six. Not sure. I get up. My body is sore all around. I take a look at my surroundings. Still at the clinically white, sterile, medical-wing of the tower. I start walking around. Everything is so clean. Five beds on each side, all empty and made. That's strange. I walk up to the door and listen. Nothing.

I open the door, look around and see no one.

"Hello?"

Nothing.

I start worrying. I walk with a quicker pace. Looks like the 'hospital' is in the twentieth floor. Great. More walking for me. I walk down to the food-court on the third floor. Everything was empty. I could see the strange markings covering the familiar walls. Angel and dragon statues decorating the peacefully quiet dining-hall. I enjoyed the silence but it also worried me. Where was everyone?

I walk up to the highest floor, looking around for any signs of life but find none. Everything is empty. On the highest floor, I see the massive, bulky door that leads to the Council's chamber. I knock on it. No answer. I start panicking and run to the floor-list. I search for anything familiar. Delta-House! Seventh floor! I run down to the designated floor and still search for anything that would tell me what had happened.

When I get to the seventh floor, I see a small door. Seems out of place. It has a three-headed dog carved into it. Cerberus? I knock on it lightly and it opens. I walk into the room and admire the beauty. There's a book-shelf, almost exploding with the amount of tomes in it! I can't wait to read these! I turn around and close the door, almost forgetting that I'm alone. The room is quite simple. There's only two floors, one lounging area and an open one, probably used for training. The lounging area is practically a huge library with two seats and one couch. There's one big window, opening up to the view of Longpoint city. I look out and see that the town seems empty. More quiet than a metropolis should.

When I study the outlines of the city, I realize that it's divided into three major blocks. The mages, which has the tower. Technicians have the huge, warehouse-looking Zero Division HQ . And then there's a more peaceful block that seems to be for tourists and people, who don't really take any part in either side. The 'normal' are looks pretty regular. A shopping mall, a few bigger hotels and a lovely little house-block to live in.

I turn back and climb down to the training area. It's just a really big, open room. Walls are white and there's a wooden dragon-ornament slithering from one end of the room to the other. A mirror covering one of the walls. The left side of the room has a weapon holder. My hook swords! I run up to them and pick them up. I find the rest of my gear and strap them on, almost purely out of habit. I notice that it's near-impossible to strap the swords on my belt, since my tails get in the way. I still haven't taken off the training-spikes that River equipped me with. I kinda like them.

I climb back up and notice a trail of white smoke. Strange. That wasn't there earlier... What? A pile of robes had appeared on one of the seats. After a few seconds, I remembered. The Seventh! I greet him, happy to know that I'm not alone.

"Hey! What's going on here? Where's everyone?"

"Weren't you told to leave the tower?" He asks, seemingly straining to put the words together. He seems angry, so I don't step any closer. He has a cigarette. That's where the smoke came from!

"Uhm... No sir"

"Well. You should leave now. It's not too safe for newcomers. Especially you"

"What does that mean?"

He chuckles but I can't tell if it's a friendly kind. "Well. It's simple, really. You are a likely target of the Seven Deadlies, are you not?"

"I wouldn't know, sir"

"Well I do" He gets up and I see a tail. Wait... It's not the same as before? He had a scaly tail earlier, like mine but now it's a furry one. Like a dogs. "And I'm telling you to get out now" He huffs, letting out another trail of that strange white smoke.

"Fine. Just tell me where to go"

"Down to the first floor. You should be able to find your way out from there" He escorts me to the staircase. "But I'd prefer that you didn't mention meeting me here, today, now"

"Sir?"

"Let's just say that I'm not in everyone's favor right now" He pats my shoulder, making a loud slap, before he shoves me towards the stairs. "Oh. And do tell your friend Jack 'hello' from me, will you? Just say that a jackal will want to have a chat with him" I can't tell for sure, because his hood is covering his face, but I think that he smiled.

"I will" I start walking down the stairs and come down to the lowest floor. It looks like a hotel, with the red carpet and welcoming desk. The same markings and statues decorate this floor as well. I walk up to the door leading outside and walk out.

I realize that I have no idea where to go. I notice the purple robed man from earlier and walk up to him. He's angry, to say the least.

"What are you doing here? Didn't you hear the Council's orders?" He's steaming with rage and I only stand there.

"I'm sorry. Nobody ever told me anything. Could you tell me where to go?"

He huffs angrily and points towards the other Circles. "After you walk through the first Circle, go downtown, not the all-mighty-Zero district. You should be able to recognize the hotel, the Council assigned to the mages for the rest of the week"

"The rest of the week?"

"Yes. Can't say I understand it either" He looks up at the tower and sighs. "There's a lot going on now. They even discharged the rest of the guards. I'm the only one here. Well. Run along. Find the rest. I'll be here when you come back" He cracks a thin smile.

"Sure"

I start walking... A long way... Very long... It's dark, by the time I reach the first Circle. The guard was right. There were no other guards. From what I could tell, that's insane! If Zero-D is already having problems with the mages, why would we leave our most important place completely unguarded? It didn't make any sense!

I walked around town for a moment. People were heading home to their families or friends. It all seemed like a dream. Lights were being turned off, shops are closed and the occasional drunk people appearing from a dark alley. Strangely, this made me calm. No lights. Dark... Silence...

After a while of walking -my feet were killing me- I spotted a curious rune. The same kind that was in the tower! I approached the building. Fancy hotel. Lots of lights. Windows. Looked like a high-class kind of place. I almost turned around but I heard a voice, which couldn't be forgotten.

"Oye! Ryu! What's up, man?"

"Hi Raven. This the place, we were supposed to check in?"

"Yeah. Why did ya take so long? They cleared up the hospital hours ago"

"I guess that I'm a heavy sleeper..." I rubbed the back of my head, still trying to figure that out, myself.

"Oh well. D-House was assigned to the suites! Wait 'till you see ours! We're sharing a room with Draco" He pulls me closer to whisper. "And the girls are just across the hall"

"Hah. Why would I be interes-"

"Iris is there I think" He laughs against my ear.

"Oh... Uhm... Still. I-"

"I know I know. Geez. You're no fun" He starts climbing towards the hotel entrance. "Oh! And Jack'll be there too. He has his own room though. Council didn't want him with the mages"

"That's good. I need to talk to him"

"Really? What about?"

"I don't know. That's why I need to talk with him"

"Hah. Sounds like a plan"

He opens the door and politely lets me in first. The hotel is massive! A blue carpet covers the whole floor. A grand piano on the left side and a harp. Iris? Iris is playing the harp! She doesn't seem to notice me. Her eyes are closed and she seems to be in a trance of sorts. Her playing is beautiful. I've never heard the melody but I already feel like I've known it for years. After Raven checks me in with the hotel-staff and gets me the key to our room, I approach Iris, carefully. But I can't seem to sneak up on her, even with my years of practice with my Master.

"No matter how quietly you walk, I could spot you from miles away" She smiles, her eyes still closed.

"Aha... Yeah... Sorry. You play well"

"First time. I'm afraid that I'm no good with this"

"Really? I could've sworn that you're a pro with that" I respond, amazed.

"Nope" She smiles and quits playing. She looks into my eyes. "I just have inspiration. That's all"

"I guess that that's a good thing"

"It is" She gets up and studies me with her eyes. I can't tell what she's thinking but I doubt it's anything bad. "You're a blind-spot"

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry! I didn't mean to offend! It's just... I can't see you, even if I try to Seek you out... It's strange. All I see is a void. That's how I recognized you, in the first place"

"I'm not offended. I'm just not used to these terms..."

"Oh? If that's a problem, you should fix it right away. We don't have a 'for beginners' class here" She giggles slightly. God... So cute!

"Well... If you don't mind helping me out?"

"Sorry. I can't. Ask Shay. She's better at this" She walks past me and goes up the stairs. I almost follow her but Raven catches me.

"Hey. Don't worry" He smiles. "I'm sure that it's just your face"

"You know. I've only known you for maybe a week now. But I really feel like punching you"

"Go ahead! I already told you that I'd like to spar you!" He spreads his arms out wide. I almost punch him but I remember who he is.

"Later. When I'm faster"

"Suits me just fine" He laughs and we head towards the stairs.

"Could we take the elevator? Please?"

"Why?"

"I'm sick of walking..." I rub my legs which are almost numb by now.

"Fine. You take the elevator. I'll race ya! Floor 24, got that?" He drops to the ground and stretches his legs, readying for 'blast off'.

"Got it" I walk up to the elevator and wait for it to stop on my floor. Raven waits. I open the door and as soon as I press 24, Raven disappears.

I wait anxiously for the digital display to hit 24. It doesn't stop once but I have the feeling that I've already lost. The elevator is a very plain looking one. Nothing apart from a mirror on the side. I glance quickly and notice that my scales seem brighter. Must be because of that 'shedding' thing. 24! I step out and look around, repeating my earlier experience. Nothing. Except... A chain! I duck quickly and roll to the front. I draw out my swords and glance to my sides. Still nothing? The chain appears again and I manage to dodge it, barely, by hopping over it. However, I misjudge my strength and hit the roof. (Note to self: Double jointed legs pack a bigger punch) I groan and see Raven appearing in front of me, out of nowhere.

"Nice jump there, pal" He offers his hand. I pull myself up with his help.

"Nice run, pal."

"Haha! Sorry! I didn't mean to throw these at ya" He spreads the chain in his hands, admiring the daggers on both ends. "But I needed some practice with that cloaking magic. I'm no good at it, I'm afraid"

"Worked for me"

"You didn't even know that it existed"

"Touché"

"I know. Now lets hit the sack. I'm tired" We walk two rooms to the left and stop at room number 23. Raven pops the key in the lock and opens the door. "Tadaah! Check this out!" He hops inside with unbelievable energy and gives me a short tour. "Here are the beds" He points to two bedrooms. "You can choose to spend the night, sharing a room with me, or Draco" He points towards the raptor, sitting in the corner of a room. Reading? Wow. Learn something new everyday, huh?

"Good to see that you're feeling better" The raptor nods at me, then buries his muzzle back to the book.

"Nice to see you too..."

"And here!" He points with his tail with dramatic momentum. "Are the toilets. You may clean both, if you want"

"I'll pass on that"

"Oh well. We'll leave that for room-service. I hear that they have pretty ladies working here. Can't wait"

"Hah... I'll just go to bed now"

"Sure. Which one?"

I glance at the calm raptor, then towards a hyperactive half-raptor. "Draco"

"Suits me!" He pounces to his room and closes the door.

I head to Draco's room and greet him quickly. "Hey. So do you want the bed, or will I-"

"You can have the bed. I'm used to the floor. Shay rarely let's me on the bed anyways"

"I meant to ask about that... Are you two-"

"Yes. We're mates"

"Oh... But how-"

"It just works. No need to inquire any further"

"Sorry. Just-"

"Curious?"

"Yes"

"Nothing wrong with that" He grins and shuts off the lights. I slump on the massive two-person bed. The red blanket matching my crimson-scales. I don't even bother with undressing. I just want to sleep. My feet are killing me. Draco walks up to me and picks up my swords. For a moment, I feel like resisting but when I see that he treats them with respect, I decide to let him put them aside. "I'll put these right next to you, so if need be, you have quick access to them"

"Thanks... Hey. Are you a mage?"

"Nope. I'm part of Shay's training. She just decided to let me tag along. Besides... " He flexes his fingers and feet, showing off with huge claws. "Who needs magic, when I can just rip 'em apart?" His teeth form a creepy grin and I almost decide to switch rooms.

"I guess that that's true... G'night..."

"Good night, Ryu"

I let my head drop and sigh nervously. Never thought that I'd sleep in the same room with a raptor. Hell. I never thought that I'd sleep in a fancy hotel either!